Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

No declarations of interest were received.

In the interests of transparency:

·         Councillor Bob Bushell wished it to be recorded in relation to Item No 4 (f) of the agenda, Hartsholme Country Park, Lincoln, that Hartsholme Country Park came within his role as Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place, however, he had not received any updates on the proposed works and had no personal interest in the matter.

·         Councillor Bob Bushell wished it to be recorded that he had requested that Item No 4(d) of the agenda, Telecommunication Station 63673, Firth Road, Lincoln be brought to Planning Committee in the interests of transparency and consistency.

·         Councillor Bean wished it to be recorded that he was a member of Hartsholme Park Advisory Group.

Dave Walker, Arboricultural Officer:

a.        advised  Planning Committee of the reasons for proposed works to trees in the City Council's ownership and sought consent to progress the works identified, as detailed at Appendix A of his report

b.        highlighted that the list did not represent all the work undertaken to Council trees, it represented all the instances where a tree was either identified for removal, or where a tree enjoyed some element of protection under planning legislation, and thus formal consent was required

c.         explained that ward councillors had been notified of the proposed works.

RESOLVED that the tree works set out in the schedules appended to the report be approved.

RESOLVED that the order of business be amended to allow the application for development at 471-480 High Street Lincoln to be considered as the next agenda item.

(Councillor Mara arrived late to the meeting during the discussion of this item. He sat in the public gallery and took no part in the deliberations or vote on the matter to be determined.)

The Planning Team Leader:

a)    advised that an inspection at the application site had taken place earlier that afternoon by Planning Committee members

b)    described the application site, located at the south end of the High Street on the eastern side, currently vacant although previously a Peugeot Garage and was occupied by a former showroom building fronting High Street with garage/workshop buildings to the rear; all to be demolished as part of the planning proposal

c)    described the surrounding area to the application site adjacent to the South Park/St Catherines roundabout, with;

d)    highlighted that the site was situated within St Catherines Conservation Area No 4

e)    advised that whilst the site was vacant in terms of its land use, Bentley’s on behalf of the Environment Agency had been undertaking works for several months in relation to the bank on the south boundary of the site, including removal of the trees along the boundary with the bank as part of a scheme of measures to improve flood defences in the area

f)     added that these works did not require planning permission and were not connected to the development proposed under this application; despite the proximity to the Sincil Dyke the majority of the site was within Flood Zone 1 with a small area on the south-western corner of the site located within Flood Zone 2

g)    advised that planning permission was sought for a residential care home comprising 73 en-suite rooms set within a purpose built facility over three floors, to include office space, kitchens, laundry facilities with shared kitchen and lounge facilities

h)    reported that access to the development would be via Cross Spencer Street and the existing access from High Street would be stopped up, pedestrian access would be via the rear of the building into a reception space within the centre of the building and 23 car parking spaces would be provided on-site for staff and visitors’ use

i)     referred to pre-application discussions with the applicant and their architect having taken place and further discussions which had continued throughout the application process resulting in revisions submitted to address officer concerns regarding overlooking, design and access

j)     reported that the scheme submitted by Torsion Care had also submitted a separate application for retirement flats on land to the rear of this site including the former United Reform Church to the north  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

(Councillor Mara took his seat as a Member of Planning Committee for the remainder of the meeting.)

The Assistant Director of Planning:

1. described the application site, located on a corner plot, with Newland Street West to the north and Nelson Street to the west, within a built up residential area

2. advised that planning permission was sought to change the use of the ground floor from a public house (Use Class Sui Generis) and existing upper floor flat to form two maisonettes (Use Class C3), which included demolition of the rear outbuildings to facilitate a two-storey extension and the erection of one new dwelling to create 3 residential units in total

3. provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan

·         Policy LP15: Community Facilities

·         Policy LP26: Design and Visual Amenity

4. advised Planning Committee of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposal with regards to:

·         Principle of Development

·         Asset of Community Value

·         Loss of the Public House

·         Residential Amenity

·         Visual Amenity

·         Energy

·         No Students S106

·         Contaminated Land

·         Air Quality

·         Highways

5. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

6. explained the background to considerations of Policy LP15 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan relating to the loss of an existing community facility which required the applicants to have demonstrated that the application met the tests of LP15 as follows:

7. reported that following the submission of the planning application, 108 Newland Street West had been placed on the Asset of Community Value (ACV) Register (for the second time, after an appeal against a previous ACV was upheld), a process that gave communities a right to identify a building or other land to be of importance to their community’s social well-being; should the asset come up for sale communities would be given a fair chance to bid to buy it on the open market

8. reported that an appeal had been lodged against the current ACV but had not yet been heard

9. described the process for an Asset of Community Value in further detail within the officer’s report

10. referred to the Update Sheet which included additional responses received in respect of the proposed development

11. concluded that:

The Assistant Director of Planning:

1. advised that planning permission was sought for the erection of a single storey rear extension to 59 Hawthorn Road, a semi- detached red brick and render property situated on the north side of Hawthorn Road

2. advised that the application was brought before committee as the applicant was related to a City Council employee

3. provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         Central Lincolnshire Local Plan

·         Policy LP26: Design and Visual Amenity

4. advised Planning Committee of the main issues to be considered as part of the planning application as follows:

·         Principle of Development

·         Impact on Neighbours

·         Visual Amenity

·         Technical Matters

5. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

6. concluded that:

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

·         Development to commence within 3 years

·         Development to be carried out in accordance with the submitted plans.

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that the original proposal was for the erection of a 20m high monopole situated within the footpath, however following concerns raised by the Highway Authority that the monopole may restrict the footpath for pedestrians, the proposal had been amended by the agent to address this concern

b.    reported that the revised application sought permission for the removal of the existing 12.m high monopole and the erection of a 15m high Hutchinson monopole

c.    advised that due to changes in legislation monopoles below 25 metres high did not require planning permission, however the applicant had decided to continue with this request

d.    described the application site located on the east side of Firth Road, within the grass verge, at the back edge of the footpath; the area around the site was predominantly characterised by large commercial premises with open land surrounding including Siemens and the rear service yard of Tritton Retail Park, and some two storey residential terrace properties located approximately 94m to the north of the site

e.    highlighted that a declaration had been submitted with the application to confirm that the equipment met International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Public Exposure Guidelines (ICNIRP)

f.     provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework      

·         Local Plan Policy 26

g.    advised Planning Committee that in determining this prior approval application, the Local Planning Authority could only consider the siting and appearance of the proposed telecommunications equipment

h.    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

i.      concluded that it was considered that the siting and appearance of the proposed monopole would not have a harmful visual impact on the character and appearance of the area or have a harmful effect on residential amenity, in accordance with the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policy LP26 and paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

• Development to commence within 3 years
• Development to be carried out in accordance with the submitted plans

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that the application sought to establish whether prior approval is required for the installation of the following:

·         A 5m extension to the existing mast

·         The installation of sector & dish antennas on the existing shared mast to be mounted on the new tower extension and headframe.

·         The installation of ground-based radio housing equipment within an existing compound

·         The installation of cabling and associated development

b.    reported that the proposal related to the upgrading of an existing 15m lattice tower and associated ancillary equipment housed within the compound of the Birchwood Telephone Exchange on the eastern side of Whisby Road, close to the junction with Doddington Road, located within the grounds of the BT Exchange with the existing two storey building screening the majority of views of the existing mast

c.    advised that this application was submitted under Part 16 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (GPDO) as amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (no.2) Order 2016.

d.    highlighted that due to the fixed 56 days in which Local Authorities must inform mast operators of the decision on whether prior approval was required for siting and appearance and to let the operator know of its decision, it had not been possible on this occasion for this prior approval to be presented at committee before determination, however, this report detailed the considerations taken during the application

e.    confirmed that a declaration had been submitted with the application which confirmed that the equipment was in line with the Public RF Exposure Guidelines.

f.     provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework – Section 10

·         Policy LP26

g.    advised Planning Committee that in determining this prior approval application, the Local Planning Authority could only consider the siting and appearance of the proposed telecommunications equipment

h.    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

i.      concluded that:

·          It was considered that the siting and appearance of the proposed monopole would not have a harmful visual impact on the character and appearance of the area, in accordance with the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Policy LP26 and paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

·         The application was therefore determined under delegated powers by the Assistant Director. Prior approval under Class A of Part 16 Schedule 2 of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2016 (as amended) was thereby approved.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report and decision made be noted.

The Planning Team Leader:

1. described the application site, Hartsholme Country Park, as a Grade II Listed Historic Park and Garden

2. advised that the proposal related specifically to the former Aviary structure located to the west of the Visitor Centre within the park

3. reported that permission was sought for partial removal of the existing aviary structure and the installation of a storage container to facilitate secure storage and amenity space for staff and volunteers

4. provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework

·         Policy LP22: Green Wedges

·         Policy LP25: The Historic Environment;

·         Policy LP29: Protecting Lincoln’s Setting and Character

5. advised Planning Committee of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposal with regards to:

·         Accordance with National and Local Planning Policy

·         Impact on Visual Amenity and the Character or Setting of the Designated Heritage Asset as a Historic Park and Garden

6. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

7. concluded that:

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted conditionally.